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Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:41 pm
by kleggo
Is there any further insight regarding if PCA / PCASDR will require an FAI certified HANS type device for HPDE / Time Trial events if the driver chooses to utilize 5 / 6 point harnesses?

Thanks

Craig

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 11:15 pm
by Cajundaddy
Confirmed to be included in PCA HPDE Minimum Standards for 2019. The PCA National DE advisory team hopes that you will choose to add a HANS device ASAP if you are running racing harnesses and not wait until it becomes mandatory for DE/TT next year. Mounting evidence suggests that the neck of a driver or passenger is at serious risk when strapped into a racing harness without a neck restraint device. This will necessitate 2 separate tracs for student/instructor pairings (which we mostly do already).

1. Those with stock seats/belts
2. Those with modified interiors including racing seats, harnesses, and neck restraints.

http://www.brrperformance.com/blog/?p=3844
https://www.pca.org/driver-education-minimum-standards

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 7:25 am
by Dan Chambers
Safety first.

Although the cost of safety equipment may seem somewhat high (seats, harnesses, helmets, HANS, rollbars, driving suits)... in the big picture it's about being able to walk away from a worst-case scenerio with minimum injury.

-"Top quality helmets are expensive".... what's the value of your gray-matter? Brains aren't like trains; you can't go out and buy a new set.
-"HANS devices are cumbersome and a hassle to put on and off"... what's the value of being able to walk, talk, chew your food, or even be alive? Spinal damage is no party.
-"Seats, roll bars, and harnesses are expensive and alter the nice aspects of my car's interior"... ever kiss a stearing wheel at 80-MPH, get tucked under a dashboard, play "pingpond ball-in-a-hurricane" inside your car, or compete in a pole-vaulting competition ... without the pole? (3-point seatbelts really don't do much for you in a roll-over.) You should be one-with-your-car-chassis in worse-case scenarios.
-"Well, I'm a safe driver and won't ever get into a bad situation"... yeah? What about the guy/girl in the car passing you in the braking zone? How safe are they?

I've always advocated for as much safety gear requirements in a car as possible. I've never been a fan of having any car on a track with other cars around (or even driving solo) where speeds are high (triple-digits) and the car has nothing more than stock seat belts and a strong knowledge of prayers. I've always advocated that ALL track cars should be equipped with 5-point harness systems as a minimum safety requirement, but I've sadly been over-ruled for the sake higher participation interests by both Zone and National governing boards.

In my opinion safety gear is, in the long-run, a lot cheaper than hospital costs and extended rehab. :wink:

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 9:22 pm
by kleggo
Cajundaddy wrote:Confirmed to be included in PCA HPDE Minimum Standards for 2019. The PCA National DE advisory team hopes that you will choose to add a HANS device ASAP if you are running racing harnesses and not wait until it becomes mandatory for DE/TT next year. Mounting evidence suggests that the neck of a driver or passenger is at serious risk when strapped into a racing harness without a neck restraint device. This will necessitate 2 separate tracs for student/instructor pairings (which we mostly do already).

1. Those with stock seats/belts
2. Those with modified interiors including racing seats, harnesses, and neck restraints.

http://www.brrperformance.com/blog/?p=3844
https://www.pca.org/driver-education-minimum-standards

Thanks Dave.
Do I read this correctly that drivers / cars with 3 point belts will also require "HANS"??????????????
I didn't think that "HANS" was compatible with 3 points.

Cheers

Craig

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:24 am
by mrondeau
kleggo wrote:
Cajundaddy wrote:Confirmed to be included in PCA HPDE Minimum Standards for 2019. The PCA National DE advisory team hopes that you will choose to add a HANS device ASAP if you are running racing harnesses and not wait until it becomes mandatory for DE/TT next year. Mounting evidence suggests that the neck of a driver or passenger is at serious risk when strapped into a racing harness without a neck restraint device. This will necessitate 2 separate tracs for student/instructor pairings (which we mostly do already).

1. Those with stock seats/belts
2. Those with modified interiors including racing seats, harnesses, and neck restraints.

http://www.brrperformance.com/blog/?p=3844
https://www.pca.org/driver-education-minimum-standards

Thanks Dave.
Do I read this correctly that drivers / cars with 3 point belts will also require "HANS"??????????????
I didn't think that "HANS" was compatible with 3 points.

Cheers

Craig


"HANS" Type systems will be required for those with harnesses as part of a complete restraint system. They will not be required for 3 point belts.

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:22 pm
by dcarusillo
What about pace cars?
https://youtu.be/oFFesWoUMfo

Re: Head And Neck Restraint for HPDE / Time Trials in 2019+?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 7:29 am
by kleggo
mrondeau wrote:
"HANS" Type systems will be required for those with harnesses as part of a complete restraint system. They will not be required for 3 point belts.


Thanks Mark,
I'm going to take a chance and try to start a discussion in the "lightly visited" technical forum to see if there is any traffic on specific vendor models pro / cons.

Craig